USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1934 > Part 7
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The H. & C. Engineering Company donated the material to hook up our lacquer booth and one motor. This work was done under the supervision of William Metters, master electrician, for the H. & C. Company. The Union Plate & Wire Company have rolled stock for us, Leach & Garner Company ground a pair of rolls for us; Mossberg Pressed Steel Company did some welding for us and we have borrowed tools to use for special work from A. A. Augat Machine & Tool Company, Smith Richardson Company, Apco Mossberg Com- pany and D. A. Taylor Tool Company. Our bright dipping has been done by the Knobby Plating Company.
The Attleboro Building Wrecking Company has offered us lumber for benches which we expect to take advantage of in the near future. The committee also raised a sum of money, to which most manufacturers contributed. This fund is being used for materials, power, gas., etc.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank publicly all firms and individuals who through their kindness in donating time, material or money, have made it possible for this school to exist. If I have failed to mention any who have donated it is not intentional but merely because memories are faulty.
I wish to extend to parents and manufacturers alike an invitation to visit our school so that you may have a clearer idea of what we are doing and what we
89
ANNUAL REPORT
hope to do. Up until the time the school moved into the Ingraham Building, there had been about 80 registrations but we were only able to provide for about 25 at that time. Our average attendance has been about 28 and is slowly in- creasing, so that now it has reached about 32 and I can see the time fast ap- proaching when our attendance will be governed entirely by our facilities to accommodate the men."
COST OF EDUCATION
We still continue to educate our children at a very low cost per pupil. In 1933, according to the State Report, the cost per pupil in Attleboro was $75.41. Out of 355 towns and cities in the State, Attleboro's rank was No. 293. Only 62 towns and cities had a lower rank. In 1934 the cost per pupil in Attleboro was $65.69. Attleboro's rank in the State was No. 326. Only 29 towns and cities had a lower cost per pupil.
The 29 places are as follows:
Group I, 1 city Leominster $64.22
Average cost for 39 cities in the State, Group I. . . $88.36
Group II, 12 towns
Dracut
64.73
Rockland
64.65
Clinton.
64.17
North Attleboro
64.15
Grafton .
62.87
Chelmsford.
62.26
Athol.
62.06
Maynard.
61.87
Randolph
61.25
Adams.
60.68
Saugus
59.61
Winchendon
51.49
Average cost for 123 towns in Group II.
$SS.20
Group III, 12 towns Upton.
65.39
Holliston
65.11
Blackstone
64.98
Douglas
63.60
Tisbury
63.17
Hadley
62.27
Oxford.
61.83
Pepperell.
60.99
Templeton.
60.22
Medway
60.05
Wilmington.
58.63
Leicester
58.30
Average cost for 108 towns in Group III
$85.34
Group IV, 4 towns
Rehoboth
61.22
Seekonk
61.20
Bellingham
60.79
Millville .
59.97
Average cost for 126 towiis in Group IV
$98.31
Average cost for 355 towns in State $87.09
Cost for Attleboro. $65.64
I believe the large classes and crowded conditions have already affected the efficiency of the High School. How much lower can we cut our costs without affecting the efficiency of all the schools?
The accompanying graph will show our standing in the State.
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ANNUAL REPORT
ATTLEBORO'S RANK IN THE STATE STATE REPORT FOR 1934
5 15 25 35 45 55
Population No. 36
Valuation No. 43
Valuation Per Pupil No. 197
Cost Per Pupil No. 326
65 75 85 95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285 295 305 315 325 335 345 355
355 Towns and Cities in the State
Population 21,769 Rank 36th in
Valuation $25.307,970 Rank 43rd in 355 Towns and 355 Towns and Rank 197th Cities in the State
Cities in the State
Valuation per Pupil $6,093 in the State
Cost per Pupil $65.64 Rank in State 326th Only 29 Cities and Towns lower
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ANNUAL REPORT
DEPARTMENT CREDITS
Few people realize how much the State contributes toward the support of schools in Attleboro. In 1933 there was received from the State the following amounts:
Reimbursement on Teachers' Salaries. $36,786.76
Americanization . 264.95
State Wards . 1,176.87
Continuation School 2,981.32
$41,209.90
To this may be added $691.72 received from the federal government, and $754.34 from the sale of books and supplies, use of school buildings, etc. This makes a total of $42,655.96 which came into the city treasury in 1933, but was not credited to the school department.
For 1934 the State paid on account of
Teachers' Salaries.
$36,344.25
Continuation School
1,591.76
State Wards.
737.72
$38,673.73
Other receipts will probably be about
720.00
making a total of
$39,393.73
to be credited against the amount appropriated for the support of schools.
ACHIEVEMENT TESTS
The testing program, started in 1930, has become a part of our regular school procedure. Tests are given in the fall and in the spring, the results tabulated, and a report given to each teacher whose pupils were given the test. This year the Metropolitan Achievement Tests were used. The results of the tests given in November 1934, are here given.
Metropolitan Achievement Tests November, 1934 Equivalent Grades for Attleboro
Subject
Grades
Taking Tests
Grade
Norm
Reading
Vocabulary
Arithmetic
Fundamentals
Arithmetic
Problems
Spelling
English
Literature
History
Geography _
VIII B
8.3
8.3
7.9
8.4
8.5
8.2
8.8
8.9
8.8
8.8
VII B
7.3
7.8
7.4
7.8
7.6
7.2
8.2
8.7
8.2
8.4
VI B
6.3
6.5
6.2
6.6
6.3
6.2
6.9
VB
5.3
5.5
5.4
5.3
5.2
4.10
5.9
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ANNUAL REPORT
The figure to the right of the decimal point indicates the month of the school year. 8.3 means the third month of the year in the eighth grade. A grade is up to standard if its equivalent grade is the same as or higher than the grade given for the norm. It will be seen that in all subjects but spelling the schools are well up to the standard, and in spelling three of the grades are but one month below the norm. The results of these tests are very encourgaing.
PENMANSHIP
The Palmer Method of Penmanship offers an award to each grade for the satisfactory completion of a certain number of drills. The awards are made by the A. N. Palmer Company. The number of awards received by the pupils indicates their activity in this subject, and shows the excellence attained.
SUMMARY OF PENMANSHIP AWARDS, 1933-1934
S. S.
Button
G. S.
Button
Palmer
- Button
Merit
- Button
Prog.
1 1 HH Pin
Imp.
Cert.
Stud.
Cert.
H. S.
Cert.
Total
1932-1933 a Total
Bliss . . .
50
64
51
40
68
48
97
59
477
438
Briggs Cor
16
11
21
15
15
16
8
102
105
Capron
16
27
22
65
76
Carpenter St ..
23
50
7
80
63
Dodgeville
19
23
21
17
25
15
6
4
130
122
Farmers
16
26
15
17
14
12
4
4
108
104
Finberg.
21
15
16
18
22
18
17
11
138
209
Lincoln .
19
29
26
32
11
53
16
186
278
Plat .
6
14
13
9
42
56
Pleasant St .. .
23
27
17
67
70
Richardson .. .
25
30
74
89
72
81
57
53
481
518
Sanford St .. . .
36
30
36
65
71
80
82
48
44S
327
So. Attleboro.
27
12
19
20
8
1
1
88
109
Tiffany
36
20
56
42
47
55
52
34
342
327
Washington
50
41
51
59
41
44
36
9
331
382
Totals
364
409
450
409
426
389
444
312
3203
1932-1933.
435
441
445
442
447
407
362
327
3306
Per Cent of Pupils in Each Grade Receiving Awards
June Enrollment
Pupils holding Award for Grade
Per cent of Pupils 100%
VIII
325
296
91%
VII
373
307
82%
VI
381
343
90%
V.
423
403
95%
IV
40S
374
92%
III.
427
359
84%
II
440
431
98%
I
379
341
90%
Total.
3196
2896
91%
1
8
29
32
71
47
High
Bank St.
2
42
1933-1934
Grade-High, Commercial Course.
42
42
In June, 1934, 2896, or 91% of the pupils had the award for the grade.
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ANNUAL REPORT
VALUATION AND INSURANCE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS
In 1926 a survey of the city property was made by Mr. O. A. Johnson, and sound values established on all buildings. Additional insurance was placed at that time, especially on the brick buildings to bring the insurance up to 80% of the sound value. With values estimated eight years ago, I believe the school buildings are fully insured.
Brick Buildings
High
$ 383,700
$ 313,500
Bliss.
200,000
158,000
Finberg
135,000
105,000
Lincoln.
163,000
135,000
Richardson
227,000
178,000
Tiffany
80,000
56,000
Washington
67,600
56,000
Wooden Buildings
Bank Street
41,600
29,600
Briggs Corner
20,000
12,600
Capron . .
15,300
9,500
Carpenter Street.
15,300
9,500
Dodgeville
31,800
20,500
Farmers
20,000
12,200
Finberg Cottage
1,200
1,500
Plat.
9,000
5,500
Pleasant Street . .
15,800
10,000
Sanford Street-West .
29,700
20,800
Sanford Street-Middle
46,800
34,000
Sanford Street-East.
6,000
4,200
South Attleboro.
20,000
13,500
Portables
Finberg No. 1
1,800
1,800
Finberg No. 2.
1,800
1,800
Tiffany
1,800
1,800
Washington No. 1
1,800
1,800
Washington No. 2.
1,800
1,800
$1,537,800
$1,193,900
REPAIRS
The school buildings are valued at $1,537,800. They are insured, under the 80% clause, for $1,193,900. To care for these buildings, inside and out, there was appropriated in 1934, $6,500. Everyone who owns buildings knows that this amount is entirely inadequate to keep the property in good condition. It is less than 1-2 of one per cent of the valuation. To be sure, in 1932 and 1933 much inside and outside painting was done by workers furnished by the city welfare department. Also, in 1934 various E. R. A. projects were carried on in which considerable painting was done. Inside painting of classrooms, however, was necessarily confined to those buildings that had vacant rooms so that the classes could be moved out of a room while the painting was being done. While some buildings are in excellent condition, others need much painting and cal- cimining to keep them as attractive as they should be.
Five projects under the C. W. A. and the E. R. A. were carried out, involving a total cost of $13,107.20, of which $9,698.04 was furnished by the E. R. A. A full detailed report on these projects will be found in the report of the custodian of buildings.
Johnson's Sound Value 1926
Amount of
Insurance
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ANNUAL REPORT
In that report, also, will be found a statement regarding the condition of the heating equipment in various school buildings. The time has come when several of the hot air furnaces must be replaced. They can no longer be repaired to prevent gas from escaping into the classrooms. With the present prices of coal, it will be more economical and efficient in the long run, to replace the hot air furnaces with boilers and to heat the buildings entirely by steam. If all the furnaces cannot be replaced at once, a beginning in one school at least, should be made this year.
RESIGNATIONS
Eleven teachers resigned during the year, most of them to be married. One resigned to accept a larger salary. One leave of absence was granted.
Date
Resignations
School
Reason
June 22, 1934
Margaret Davidson
Asst. Drawing
To be married
July 12
Marguerite Libbey
Bliss, VI
To be married
July 13
Olive L. Gorrie
High To be married
July 17
Dorothy M. Lamond
Washington, II
To be married
July 18
Edna G. Jacques
Sanford St., I
To be married
July 29
Virginia King
Richardson, V
To be married
August 13
Emma Travers
August 14
Rebecca C. Cooke
Briggs Corner, I, II To be married Finberg, Art
Sept. 5
Una Ritchie
High
Oct. 1
Gladys C. Aldrich
Richardson, VI
To take up other employment To be married To be married
Oct. 24
Priscilla Comeau
Finberg, Arith.
Lexington
Leave of Absence
August 13
Mabel J. Wall
High
Illness
THE SCHOOL SAVINGS BANK
Deposits in the School Savings Bank, while somewhat larger than last year, are still much less than they were in 1931. Yet a gain of $228 is an indication that times are a little better, the number of depositors remaining about the same. The purpose of the bank is to encourage thrift. Savings accounts at the First National Bank have been started for 6067 pupils since October, 1908, when the bank was started, and $162,402.61 has been deposited.
Statement December 31, 1934
Dr.
Balance on deposit January 1, 1934 including interest ($1274). .$ 3,490.63 Deposits in First National Bank from Jan. 1, 1934 to Dec. 31, 1934. 3,941.93
Interest from November, 1933, to November, 1934. 95.64
Cr. $ 7,528.20
Transferred to pupils' individual accounts, Jan. 1, 1934 to Jan. 1, 1935 $ 3,812.00 Withdrawn, 1934, from interest to cover expenses . 31.59
Balance on deposit December 31, 1934 including interest ($1338.05). 3,684.61
7,528.20
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ANNUAL REPORT
Total amount deposited since October, 1908. $162,402.61
Number of individual accounts opened at First National Bank from October, 1908 to January, 1934.
5951
January, 1934 to January, 1935.
116
Total
6067
Number of pupils depositing in the school bank Jan. 1, 1935 (est.) . . 1500
Deposits Since the Establishment of the Bank in 1908:
Year
Deposits
1908-1927 (inclusive)
$116,362.48
1928
8,752.85
1929.
8,586.30
1930
7,853.17
1931
8,026.85
1932
5,165.36
1933.
3,713.67
1934
3,941.93
Total
$162,402.61
OTHER REPORTS
Very interesting information will be found in the reports of other school officials accompanying this report. Conditions at the High School, the opening of the new Vocational School, the new features in the teaching of music, the development of the art program, how the pupils are guarded from contagious diseases and all the means taken to keep them well and strong, what has been done to keep up the property of the department and recommendations for the future, are all contained in the following reports which will well repay careful reading. I would like to call special attention to the report of the custodian of school buildings on the repair work done under the CWA, and the pressing need for some action to replace the heating equipment in various school buildings.
In spite of the many curtailments that have been made, the many economies that have been put into effect, and the many little extras in education that we would like to have offered but could not, I believe that the schools are main- taining a high standard of scholarship. The fundamentals of education are the same as they have always been. If the schools can train pupils how to care for their bodies so that they may be in good health, give the pupils the necessary start toward earning a living, teach the pupils to spend their lesiure in a happy and profitable manner, and build characters that will function worthily in home, church, and society, the schools will have done all that is expected of them. Only time will reveal how well these tasks are being done, but if the wholehearted efforts of an earnest, interested corps of teachers can produce these results, then no one can doubt that the boys and girls of today will become worthy citizens of tomorrow, an honor to Attleboro and the schools in which they were educated.
Respectfully submitted,
Lewis A. Fales.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit with pleasure my fourth annual report under the following headings and tables:
J. Enrollment.
Total Enrollment on November 23, 1934-
Boys
Girls
Total
P. G.
4
6
10
1935.
73
110
183
1936.
89
109
198
1937.
122
127
249
1938.
144
157
301
Total
432
509
941
Note-We require 15 credits to be a Sophomore, 40 credits to be a Junior, 60 credits to be a Senior, and 80 credits to graduate. This means that a pupil may have credits less than his class and yet catch up. Therefore, each of the above classes except the Freshman may be considered somewhat larger. For example, the Junior class (1936) in the above, contains some 17 pupils who will doubtless graduate, so that next year's graduating class, 1935, will be probably nearer 200 than 183 as above indicated.
In September 1931 the average membership was 853; September 1932, 958; September 1933, 927 and September 1934, 941. These figures indicate that we have reached an approximate level of membership and may reasonably expect something over 900 pupils each year. For the year 1933-1934, the number of pupils varied from 927 at the beginning of the year to 860 in June, a loss of 67 during the year.
11. Scholarship.
Report cards with a Principal's Bulletin go out every two months. The number of pupils on the Honor Roll has increased, 21% of the enrollment being on the Honor Roll in October. This shows a greater desire and endeavor on the part of the pupils. 134 students missed the Honor Roll by one subject, and a letter was sent to the parents of these pupils commending the good work done and presenting the need of still greater effort. We wish to "put across" to stu- dents the ideal of working hard when they work, and playing hard when they play. After all, our direct purpose is to maintain and improve scholarship, and all possible leadership to this end is being used. The majority of our students are ready and willing to study and study hard. Very few people, even adults, work at their fullest capacity. Of course, there are some students who can not or will not study.
Each term the ranks have been carefully summarized. Our 941 students averaging 5 subjects each, take 4563 subjects. The ranks received in these 4563 subjects September-October 1934 were as follows: A's-654; B's-1715; C's-1759; D's-252; F's-103; Incomplete-SO. The total of the passing marks (A's, B's and C's) is 4128. The total of the failing marks (D's and F's) is 355. This indicates that the majority of the pupils are doing good work.
Various studies have been made in connection with our marking system For some years we have occasionally given a "D" at the end of the year. This,
97
ANNUAL REPORT
as explained on the reverse side of the report card, entitles the pupil to half credit and if it is given in a continuing subject (English, French, etc.), he may take the subject the following year on trial. If he is passing at the end of the first two months, he is allowed to continue. If he passes at the end of the year, he receives full credit for the year, and also the remaining half credit he did not get the first year. In 1931-32, 36 out of 64 so passed the continuing subject, in 1932-33 there were 26 out of 46, and in 1933-34 there were 20 out of 48, a total of 82 out of 158 in three years, about 50%. These pupils, if it were not for this system, would have had to repeat the subject. Hereis surely a definite saving by preventing retardation. In 1934-35, 45 were allowed to take the continuing subject on trial, 16 did not "make good' in the probational term and had to be demoted. 29 "made good" and will continue for the remainder of the year. Judging from the experience of the other three years, about 22 of the 45 should pass for the year.
Il1. Our Program.
We offer College, Technical, Commercial, Manual Arts, and Household Arts curriculums and our purpose is to teach good citizenship, to give boys and girls an understanding of the world in which they live, to give them a start in life of economic usefulness, and to help them use wisely the leisure time they will have. To do all this well is a large undertaking-to train good members of society, to give a good liberal education, and to create a desire for wholesome pleasures are some of the bigger things we hope in some degree to attain.
IV. Household Arts.
Our Household Arts program has been changed considerably from last year, as we now receive state aid, and the department is partly supervised by the state. The changes have strengthened and modernized our program. In general, clothing is introduced earlier in the curriculum than before.
The plan for the Household Arts Course for 1934-35 is as follows: Foods and Nutrition I are offered the first semester of the Freshman year, and Foods and Nutrition II the first half of the Sophomore year.
The general aims of these courses are: to teach the principles of nutrition, economy and health as they function in the preparation and serving of foods for a family; and to develop skill in the preparation of foods.
The courses in Clothing I, II and III offered the second semester of the Fresh- man, Sophomore and Junior years aim to teach the principles of economy as they function in the wise selection and the intelligent construction of clothing; to teach the scientific principles that pertain to the care, cleansing, and preserva- tion of clothing and its relation to bodily cleanliness and health; to teach the principles of construction and fundamental processes in technique as they are used in various types of clothing; to teach the value of art principles in relation to clothing; to lead pupils to develop their powers of creative ability; and thus to experience the satisfaction of self expression in leisure time.
Household Management is offered the first part of the Junior year. Its general aims are:
(1) to determine the place of the home in the changing civilization
(2) to interpret the importance of the home in developing health standards
(3) to develop an understanding of problems involved in the successful home
(4) to develop in the minds of the pupils their social and economic re- sponsibilities as members of a family group
98
ANNUAL REPORT
(5) to develop correct technique leading to skill in processes involved in the care of a house as a means to successful family living
(6) to make pupils realize the possibilities of happy family life through cooperation of the individuals in the family and to establish a con- ception of the relationship between family and community life.
V. Manual Arts.
The enrollment of the Mechanical Drawing and Manual Training classes has been steadily increasing during the past four years. (See tables.) The in- crease, however, has been greatest in the first and second year classes, although the third and fourth year groups are somewhat larger than in previous years. Because of congestion, we had to cut down the number of Seniors and Juniors electing these courses. The spirit of correlation existing between the Mechanical Drawing and Wood Working Department affords the student a medium of self expression, first on paper and then in wood.
VI. Library.
The total number of pupils who used the library during the year 1933-34 was nearly 30,000. This was an increase of 4100 over the previous year and 6500 over 1931-32. Since pupils are not allowed to come to the library unless they have a specific reason, these figures represent actual use of library materials. The gain is due partly to increased enrollment in the school, but more particularly to the fact that each year more teachers are giving library assignments.
As has been the custom for the past four years, each Freshman came to the library last year for four consecutive classes in the use of the library.
For the past three years we have had very few new books, with the result that our shelves are beginning to show a lack of up-to-date material, particularly an the reference section.
The depression which has caused pupils to have less money for entertain- ment, has turned some of them to the library for books. Presumably many of these people will continue this habit by getting books from the Public Library after they leave school. We should encourage this tendency with an adequate supply of good books and magazines since present conditions indicate that training for the wise use of leisure will continue to be of increasing importance as an educational objective for secondary schools.
VII. Extra Classroom Activities.
Athletics continue to flourish, under the able management of Coach Grayson in football, basketball, and baseball. Last year Miss Farr again coached the girls' basketball and Mr. Cooney had the track team.
We had a Student Council in 1933-34 for the first time and this year one of our Seniors, William Lee, is President of the Association of Student Councils in Southeastern Massachusetts. We again have a Student Council for 1934-35 to help in improving student morale.
On February 15, 1934, the Seniors put on the Comedy "I'll Leave It to You", coached by Miss Smith, our librarian.
The "Blue Owl" with three issues and the "Tattletale" number is becoming increasingly difficult to finance. It may be that we shall be forced to change the plans in regard to these magazines.
We have two orchestras, one for the upper class assemblies (Seniors, Juniors and Sophomores) on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and one for the Freshman assemblies held Wednesday and Friday mornings.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Dramatic, Debating, Stamp and French clubs are the active groups this year.
VI]]. Miscellaneous.
A class of 161 graduated in 1934. (See table.) There were 73 boys and 88 girls. We expect about 200 to graduate in June, 1935.
The school continues to be on the approved list for the New England College Certificate Board, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is in Class A for State Teachers Colleges.
Postgraduates have decreased in number. We have not admitted them until the second Monday in September, and then to subjects not overcrowded. We expect them to have a definite objective in coming to school. Regular attendance, perfect behavior and good work are required.
Last year a 16 mm. moving picture machine was added to our equipment. We have taken advantage of free films loaned by various concerns, principally from the Boston University Free Film Service. Last year we had 35 films, and this year we have a schedule already of 35 films. These are shown to such classes as have a direct connection with the pictures. Most of them have been for science, commercial geography or household arts classes.
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